Phil Mickelson's popularity takes a major surge

Phil Mickelson of the United States gestures as he holds up the Claret Jug trophy after winning the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland, Sunday July 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Phil Mickelson is going so good that he’s usurped Tiger Woods as the man people most want to win a major.

We live by majors. We give so much power to those who can win them. And feel for those who crumble under their pressure.

Woods’ quest to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors seems unattainable now. He needs four more majors to tie it, and Woods hasn’t won a major in more than five years.

Mickelson has won two majors in the span of Woods’ drought -- the Masters in 2010 and the British Open on Sunday -- and he has the career Grand Slam on his mind.

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He’s won five majors and finished second six times in the U.S. Open.

Mickelson is due.

Despite the early onset of arthritis and the notion that the golf game somehow eludes golfers after 40, Mickelson is at his best as a middle-aged man.

“(I played) probably the best round of my career and hit some of the best shots that I’ve ever hit,” Mickelson said after hoisting the Claret Jug. “Certainly putted better than I’ve ever putted.”

Woods used to dominate the majors. Mickelson is now getting major love.

He’s always been a fan favorite because we saw the everyday man in him. His love for family.

His gambling ways -- see his meltdown at Winged Foot. The risk-taker, who had the lead at the 18th tee, tried to pull of a miraculous recovery shot and double-bogeyed.

Afterward, he said: “I’m such an idiot.”

We all felt for him and shared his pain. That debacle was one of the things that endeared him even further to fans.

Mickelson could be the most popular player in golf. Sure, we all want to know what Woods is doing, but he’s not winning majors. Not in the last five years anyway.

The former gambler and risk-taker has learned from his mistakes. He didn’t have a driver in his bag for the British Open.

Mickelson’s British Open win was a dream turned reality. He never thought he could win there and hadn’t played like it either. With his arms raised at the 18th, we knew it was his time.A photo captured his wife, Amy, and their three children in their jubilant excitement. For each win and many failed attempts, we’ve marveled at Mickelson’s family, including his wife and mother’s battle with breast cancer.

Mickelson’s battle with weight and Five Guys Burgers. His dalliance with being a vegetarian. His commitment to his family, which is so strong that he commutes from the Northern Trust Open at Riviera by jet each day. And sure, avoiding traffic is a bonus.

During the U.S. Open in June, he attended his daughter’s eighth-grade graduation in San Diego the night before the U.S. Open was to tee off, He then took a private jet to make it to Merion on time.

He made fatherhood a priority.

Mickelson seems happy and content and that shows in his golf game. He’s at his best.

Jason Gore once held the title as Prince of Pinehurst when he made a valiant run for the championship, only to fall short. Mickelson will now wear that crown.

Lovemark rebounding

Remember former USC golfer Jamie Lovemark?

He arrived on the PGA Tour armed with an impressive amateur resume -- in which he was the NCAA’s individual champion as a freshman.

Lovemark’s introduction to the professional world was a good one. He turned professional after his junior season in 2009 and had five top-5 finishes on the Web.com Tour in 2010, including his first win at the Mexico Open. It’s been tough going since.

He had back surgery in 2011 and has been trying to find his game ever since.

Lovemark is back to his winning ways. On Sunday, Lovemark won for the first time since the surgery. He shot a final-round 66 in the Midwest Classic -- the same score he shot the previous week for a top-10 finish -- and won.

“It feels great to be playing well again, and this win is a huge relief for me,” Lovemark said. “It was nice to finally put four good rounds together.”

Lovemark sank a 15-foot pressure putt on the final hole for the victory. He’s made seven cuts and missed seven this season, but a victory would appear to give Lovemark the confidence he’s desperately needed.

He hit into a bunker on the final hole, but stuck his sand shot to 15 feet and made the putt

“That was a big bunker shot for me at No. 18 and I don’t recall ever making a putt to win like that,” Lovemark said. “It’s one of those putts you practice when fooling around and telling yourself, ‘This is to win the British Open.’ It felt really good to make it.”